Hello again, everyone!
I have begun to search through newspaper archives and online, aided by the information which you all helpfully posted, and have turned up some information which is certainly new to me, and which fills in a bit more of the picture regarding the Fire Island victim.
The most surprising thing to me is that the police have released a sketch of her face, based on the skull which was found. I hope that I will not be breaking any of the rules if I post the sketch here (mods, please let me know if I am, and I will be very happy to delete the image
)!
Here she is - the police impression of her
This picture was apparently released to the public on December 21st 2011 - I had never seen it before yesterday, and had never even heard it mentioned that a sketch of her existed! Is this "old news" to most people who follow this case, and simply a reflection of my lack of knowledge as a newcomer? Either way, it genuinely gladdens me to know that a face has been put to her - this seems to give her back some of her human dignity, and there is now every possibility that somebody will see the sketch and recognize her. Two years is not such an incredibly long time for something like this to happen...
A few other helpful details have turned up too. Apparently the particular stretch of beach on which she was found is called Blue Point Beach. She does indeed have scars on her legs, and at least one of these scars is from surgery. On the subject of the scars, reports vary slightly - one source says that she had a 3.5" scar on each leg, and an L-shaped scar on her right shin. Source:
http://z10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe/ar/t67909.htm ). Another source states that she had "several scars on her right leg, and a surgical scar with suture marks on her left ankle".
(The source in this case was a superb New York Times article, which you can read here:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2...om/search/sitesearch/#/Fire+Island+legs/&_r=2) )
The first source (the "invisionfree.com" page above) also stated that the toenails on one of her feet were painted red, whereas the New York Times article says that all ten toenails were painted red. It will be very hard to clarify these facts beyond all doubt, and it may well be that we just have to accept some vagueness on these points as being the little ambiguities which always creep into attempts to establish factual records of this sort.
One question which I would like to ask all of you here - are there any medical experts amongst us who have any ideas about what might leave you with 3.5" scars on each leg? Of course, I realize that there are no end of things, both medical and accidental, which could cause such scars - but if there is anything which immediately comes to mind when you hear the words "a 3.5" scar on each leg", I would be very, very grateful indeed for your suggestions!
I will carry on the search through newspaper archives, as I have only scratched the surface as far as they are concerned, and I will let you know of anything new which may turn up!
Aleph and LR1 - very special thanks are owed to you, as your information was particularly useful in my searches. :seeya:
Be well, everyone.